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ONYX 11 Contour Cutting - Onyx Graphics · ONYX 11 Contour Cutting WHITE PAPER | ONYX 11...

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ONYX 11 Contour Cutting WHITE PAPER | ONYX 11 onyxgfx.com
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ONYX 11 Contour Cutting

WHITE PAPER | ONYX 11

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This document explains how to contour cut using the ONYX 11 software. A brief overview of designing a file with a contour cutting path will also be explained. Any vector design application such as Adobe Illustra-tor or CorelDRAW can be used to create files used for contour cutting. This document will outline the basics through Adobe Illustrator.

How the ONYX Software Recognizes Cut Paths

It is important to understand how the ONYX software detects cut paths in a file. This is done by specially named spot colors. By default ONYX will look for spot colors beginning with the prefix CutContour. The pre-fix can be customized to any desired prefix. More will be discussed when RIP-Queue is discussed.

When a vector file such as a PDF, EPS or PS is opened in RIP-Queue, the rip checks the file for spot colors. If the name of a spot color starts with the cutting prefix, all paths using that color are pulled out of the image. The paths will be used to define the contour cut file. Multiple spot colors can be used to designate different cutting methods. The spot color names must all begin with the cutting prefix. For example an image that has two spot colors, CutContour Thru and CutContour Pounce. ONYX will see both colors as cut paths. The cut file will distinguish the two different names and reflect this in CUT-Server.

Designing Cut Paths

The first step in designing a file for contour cutting is to create a spot color.

1. Click on the New Swatch button located under the Swatches window.2. In Swatch Name, enter a name. The name should begin with the prefix

defined in ONYX 11. The rest of the name can be something that will dis-tinguish the kind of cut path the spot color will represent. If only one spot color will be used, the name can be the prefix name only.

3. Change the Color Type to Spot Color.4. Select a color representation for the spot color. This can be any color other

than white. Ideally choose a color that is easy to see within the image. This makes it easy to see if there are problems with path detection when it gets to the ONYX software.

With the spot color defined the path needs to be created. This can be done in any number of ways as long as the spot color is chosen as a fill or stroke. In Figure 3 the paths are an expanded path of the shield shape. A stroke is applied with the spot color. The fill is left empty. How the paths are created will vary based on what is needed and the objects in the file.

It is not required to have white space between the cut path and the objects. In Figure 4 the paths are defined by selecting the outer shape and setting the stroke to

the created spot color.

After the paths have been defined, the position of the elements defined as cut paths are moved to the top most layer or object order. There can be issues with

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Figure 2: Illustrator Spot Color Window

Figure 1: Cutter options in RIP-Queue

Figure 3: White space between cut path and images.

Figure 4: No space between cut path and images.

paths not being fully intact or detectable if they are placed underneath the art-work. Moving them to the top will resolve these problems.

1. Click on the Create New Layer button in the Layers window. Give it a name. 2. Select all cut path objects in the file within the Layers window. 3. Drag them up into the new layer.

Adding them to a new layer may not always be possible, depending on where the cut paths are. If they are unobstructed by the artwork they will be detected with-out problems.

A second consideration is file type. If an EPS file will be used the cut path objects must be defined as fills and not strokes.

By default EPS files do not respect the artboard size of the image, but where the artwork exists. In Illustrator there is a check box in the Save As window, Use Artboard. This option will become available when the filetype is set to EPS. Check this box if the artboard size needs to be re-spected.

In the case of PDF files either stroke or fill will work. PDFs also repsect the artboard size. Ideally save the job as a PDF version 1.6 or higher.

Configuring ONYX RIP-Queue

RIP-Queue needs to be configured to handle the contour cutting work-flow. Quick Sets are an automated way to setup a contour cutting work-flow. They can reduce time and user intervention needed for setting up jobs. A manual method can be done using Job Editor. Both methods will be discussed.

ONYX 11 has the ability to limit what cutter marks are listed in the soft-ware. This is not required but can be helpful in preventing the wrong marks from being selected. Doing this will stop all jobs that are ripping or printing.

1. Go to the File menu and choose Manage Cutters. Click Yes to shutdown the server.2. De-select all cutter marks that will not be used. Click Done.

Cutter marks can also be configured. The options available with vary based on what cutter marks are used. The options can be just disabling the barcode to setting up mark position and size. To configure the cutter

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Figure 5: New layer for cut paths

Figure 8: Manage Cutter options in RIP-Queue

Figure 6: Using a stroke cut path Figure 7: Using a fill cut path

Figure 9: Contour Cutting options in the Quick Set window

marks select the marks and click Configure.

Contour Cutting Setup Using a Quick Set

First step is to create a Quick Set for contour cutting. New Quick Sets are created through Configure Printer. Using Configure Printer will cancel any jobs currently printing or ripping in RIP-Queue.

1. Highlight the printer in RIP-Queue and click the Configure Printer button. Click Yes to shutdown the server.

2. Click on New and give the Quick Set a name.3. Under Contour Cutter Selection choose which cutter marks will

be used. 4. Click on Use Cutter Path Prefix and specify a pre-

fix. This is the prefix name ONYX will look for when it sees the spot colors in the file. Change the value from Cut-Contour if needed. This can be changed to any value as long as the spot colors begin with this prefix.

5. Click OK when finished.

After creating the Quick Set the job is ready to be loaded. Click on the Open button and select the job. Make sure the new Quick Set is selected before opening. After the job is ripped it can be printed. A cut file for CUT-Server is created at the beginning of the printing stage.

Contour Cutting Using Job Editor

The same steps can be done manually. This is done in Job Editor.

1. Click Open in RIP-Queue. Check mark the box Open in Job Editor.2. Select the job and click Open.3. Under the Printer and Media tab click on the option Contour Cutter Selection. Choose the correct cutter

marks.4. Go to the File menu and choose Job Properties. 5. Select PS/PDF Options and check mark Use Cutter Path Prefix.6. Enter in the desired value for the prefix. 7. Click OK.8. Go to the Print tab and click Submit to send the job to RIP-Queue.

After the job is ready it can be printed. The cut file that will be used in CUT-Server is created at the begin-ning of the print stage.

Using CUT-Server

CUT-Server can be launched from the toolbar in RIP-Queue or from a shortcut in the Windows Start menu.

CUT-Server’s first launches requires a cutter to be cho-sen. Select the cutter and Click OK.

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Figure 10: Opening a file with the cutting Quick Set

Figure 11: Launching CUT-Server from the toolbar in RIP-Queue.

After adding the cutter, it must be configured. In the main CUT-Server interface this can be accomplished by selecting the gear icon on the left side, next to the cutter name, or by clicking on Manage Cutters. In Manage Cutters, highlight the cutter and click Configure.

In the window the Port Settings will default to Cut To File. Click on the drop down menu and choose the correct port connection. After it is selected click Setup. If connecting via USB a list of devices will appear. Select the cutter and click Close. Using TCP/IP the IP address of the cutter will need to be entered. Below the IP address is the data port. In most cases 9100 is used. Check the cutter manual for information on what data port should be set to.

Below the Port Settings is Cut Job Settings. These are presets that determine such options as knife pressure, knife speed, what tool is used, etc. The options available will vary based on the cutter used. Add a new cutter setting if needed and configure to the appropri-ate settings.

In the main window of CUT-Server all cut jobs created will be populated on the left side. Highlight the job. On the right side options will become available. This can include cutter settings, ro-tation and mark detection. What options are available will depend on what cutter is used. Cutter Settings are the options specified under Cut Job Settings. Select the approprate Cut Job Setting. If no settings are desired select the option Device/Manual to pre-vent CUT-Server from sending any settings.

When the job is ready click the Cut Now button. The data will be sent and the cutter will start. Depending on the cutter some user interaction may be needed when the data gets over.

Troubleshooting

There are some issue that may happen preventing cut files from being created or communication problems to the cutters.

Problem Cause ResolutionCut files are not created. 1. RIP and Print on the Fly is enabled.

2. Two Stage Processing or Antialiasing are enabled.

3. Cut path is not detected.

1. Turn off RIP & Print on the Fly. This option prevents cut files from being made. This can be done in Job Editor. Go to the Print tab and click Print Setup.

2. Turn off Two Stage Processing and Antialiasing. These can interfere with cut file creation. This can be done in Job Editor. Go to File and select Job Properties.

3. Make sure the cut path is on the top most layer and the spot color name contains the prefix defined in the Quick Set.

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Figure 13: Cutter settings in CUT-Server

Figure 12: Configuring the cutter

An error appears when printing, stating there is no cut data in the file.

1. Spot color name may not have the correct prefix.

2. Color used to define the path may not be a spot color.

3. Transparency effects in an EPS be-come rastered and can eliminate the cut path.

4. Cut path is lower than the artwork in the design side.

1. Verify the spot color name and the prefix in the Quick Set. Capitalize and spaces must be respected.

2. Verify the swatches in the design application are set to spot color and not process.

3. If there is transparency, save the file as a PDF version 1.6 or 1.7. EPS files do not support transparency and will become rasterized.

4. Move the objects defined as cut paths to the top most object order or in the top most layer.

Cut file is created but does not show up in CUT-Server.

Wrong cutter marks are used. Only valid marks will automatically show up under the cutter.

Change the cutter marks in RIP-Queue to the correct marks your cutter uses and re-print the job.

If using a remote CUT-Server station, make sure the Jobs section has the cutter folder on the RIP computer selected.

Cut files show incorrectly in CUT-Server. Some cutters do not support an option called CUTSPLINES. This will cause bad output in the cut files.

CUTSPLINES needs to be turned off. 1. In RIP-Queue go to Setup > RIP

Configuration > Configure Jaws (or Adobe) RIP.

2. Enable the option USECUTSPLINES=OFF.

3. Re-rip and re-print the job.

The new cut file generated will work correctly.

Click the Cut Now button does nothing. This is caused when the cutter has not been properly configured to communi-cate with the physical device.

Setup the cutter’s communication.1. Go to Manage Cutters.2. Select the cutter and click Configure.3. Select the correct Port Settings and

click Setup.4. Enter the required information and

click Close.

Additional Resources

Documents and Knowledge Base articles for contour cutting can be found at www.onyxgfx.com.

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